SELLING THE PUBLIC'S BIRTH RIGHT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 29, 16 March 1942, Page 4

SELLING THE PUBLIC'S BIRTH RIGHT

Sir, —Your editorial regarding the regrettable fact that the Wairere falls appear to have been sold to someone years ago. will surely remind your readers of numerous other beauty spots of the district which have also passed into private hands. For instance, the public has access to precious little of the land round about Ohope Beach, everything except the sand and the narrow road being built on or held idle by speculators. Then who owns Whale Island and White Island. I have heard of various Pakeha speculators who were reputed to have bought or sold these islands. Very probably someone oAvns the top of Miount Edgecumbe. All the banks of the river running through the Whakatane County appear to be privately owned. So no wonder the Wairere Falls arc not public property. One of these days I may be able to buy up the whole earth and tell you, Mr Editor, and all the rest of humanity to jump into space or else I w r ill prosecute you as trespassers. Mean while I am just POOR PETER. (While appreciating the sentiments voiced by our correspondent, we feel, with reference to Ohope, that we must point 1 to at least s£x reserves we know of on; the sea frontage, approximating some forty acres. Ed.)